NEWS FOR TRAVELERS. WORLD watch.

CAMBODIA: Travel here with caution. Strongman ruler Hun...

September 13, 1998|By Larry Habegger and James O'Reilly. Special to the Tribune.

CAMBODIA: Travel here with caution. Strongman ruler Hun Sen claimed victory in the July 26 election. The opposition has been holding a two-week-long demonstration in a park near the parliament building in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Violence erupted Sept. 6 when security officers fired on protesters, killing one. Further violence cannot be ruled out.

FRANCE: Heavy rain followed by a cold front has made climbing Mt. Blanc extremely dangerous. Fifteen people have died climbing the mountain since mid-August. Check with local authorities for current updates.

GEORGIA: Travelers might want to pass on salads when eating in Tbilisi. In August, salad greens grown in southern Georgia were washed in contaminated water, which led to an outbreak of sometimes fatal amebic dysentery in the capital city. Boil all drinking water and avoid unpeeled vegetables.

NEPAL: Watch your step when traveling to the lowland area near the Indian border known as the Terai. Some 84 people have been killed by snakes in the last five months in the Kanchanpur district. Deadly snakes such as the king cobra and krait emerge with the onset of the monsoon, which usually runs through September.

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Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you leave home. In the U.S., contact the State Department via phone (202-647-5225), fax (202-647-3000), or Web site (www.travel.state.gov); abroad, check in with the nearest American embassy or consulate.